This blog is where we share stories, announcements, and insights from around the iGEM community.
All in iGEM Community
Ruchika Tekethotil, iGEM Promoter for Asia & Oceania, began her journey with the iGEM Community after hearing inspiring stories from her university seniors, Sabyasachi Banerjee and Onkar Date, who had been a part of different iGEM Programs.
For Damian Ungureanu, iGEM was more than a competition, it was a turning point. From working on conductive protein nanowires to rethinking his career path, Damian reflects on his journey, the value of interdisciplinary teams, and why Romania’s next generation should embrace synthetic biology.
My name is Shumvobi Mitra and I am currently both a high school student and the founder of RhizeUP, a startup based in Maryland in the United States. I first got involved with iGEM in 2023 with the iGEM Team East Coast BioCrew. What started as a competition project has now grown into RhizeUP, a startup tackling fertilizer runoff and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Tudor Onose’s journey into synthetic biology began with iGEM. As a team member in 2020 and 2021, and later as a mentor to the 2024 Warwick team, he’s seen the competition from two sides. Now a Ph.D. student at the University of Warwick, Tudor studies bacterial electrophysiology, and reflects in this interview with Andreea Cernei about team-building, mentorship and the future of synbio in Romania.
Explore how iGEM and youth-led initiatives are bridging the gap between lab work and public understanding, via storytelling, engagement and ethics in the latest SciComm Made Easy Blog.
To understand the thought process behind the creation of the BioInnovation Summit, a new event for 2025 at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, we spoke with Nemanja Stijepovic (President of the iGEM Foundation), Dorothy Zhang (Executive Vice President of iGEM) and Nadine Bongaerts (iGEM alumna, and curator of the BioInnovation Summit).
Explore how SciComm is reshaping the relationship between science and society, from open-access platforms and citizen science, to inclusive storytelling and the risks of the digital age.
What does it take to build a synthetic biology ecosystem in a region with limited infrastructure? For Benjamin Arias, it starts with community and a commitment to open science. Benjamin Arias shares how he’s building grassroots biotech tools and creating space for students, educators and researchers in Ecuador
Can design bridge the gap between science and society? Synthetic biology is full of promise, but also complexity, confusion and misinformation. Effective science communication can make a difference and visual aesthetics play a powerful role.
AI is streamlining data analysis, optimizing experiments, and even assisting in literature reviews. But as its role grows, so do ethical concerns: Who takes credit for AI-generated discoveries? Can we trust AI-driven research without human oversight?
Camila Gaspar Quinonez shares her passion for protecting the earth, leveraging the power of synthetic biology, working with microbes, and taking care what’s left of our planet in this alumni feature for the iGEM Blog.
Generative AI is changing the way we talk about science, helping to break down complex ideas and make them more accessible for some. The blog explore what AI is doing for science communication and where it might fall short of our hopes.
Building Bangladesh’s synthetic biology future starts with passionate iGEMers like Showmick Paul, Usrat Nubah and Abrar Hasan. Read how iGEM is opening doors, inspiring young scientists and shaping the future of synthetic biology in Bangladesh.
Gregory Segala, CSO and co-founder of FluoSphera, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Toulouse and continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva, where his passion for cell research laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
This month, at iGEM we celebrate the women in synthetic biology who are building and empowering global communities and redefining the future of the field. These 10 iGEMers have shown us the impact of resilience, collaboration and community.
Biosecurity Rising Leaders Munich Security Conference Declaration calls for urgent action to embed biosafety and biosecurity into the global life sciences ecosystem. Read about the Munich Security Conference Declaration, and the contributions of iGEMers to it.
Effective leadership requires courage, commitment and, most importantly, self-confidence. In this post, iGEM alumna Emily Mount shares how she gained confidence in her leadership abilities through UCSC’s longstanding iGEM program (10+years!).
Get insights on how to be a successful iGEM Team Leader in this blog featuring Madeleine Bourseul, Team Lead iGEM 2022 INSA Lyon1. Learn about the tips and tricks that can help you have a successful iGEM Competition season.
Dr. Marc Facciotti’s spent over 10 years mentoring UC Davis iGEM teams as an iGEM PI. Learn from him the ingredients of a successful iGEM team.
Read Dr. Mayi Arcellana-Panlilio’s journey as a PI of iGEM Calgary team, mentoring students to explore synthetic biology, lead interdisciplinary projects, build startups and achieve success across diverse career paths.
